Invasion of locusts, the mayor of Sedilo asks for the intervention of the Army

The mayor of Sedilo Salvatore Pes has no more doubts. To solve once and for all the invasion of locusts that rage in the countryside we need the Army.

According to the mayor, all the actions put in place to date have not led to any concrete results and therefore, an energetic and decisive intervention by the "special units of the Army" is necessary.

The request was sent yesterday morning by the Town Hall and is addressed to the Defense Minister Guido Crosetto , the Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi , the prefects of Oristano, Nuoro and Sassari, the national and regional phytosanitary services. Also informed were the president of the Region Cristian Solinas and the councilors for Agriculture Gabriella Murgia and for the Environment Gianni Lampis .

In the communication of urgent intervention for the crisis area of central Sardinia affected by acrid infestations, Pes recalls how «since 2019, the exponential invasion of grasshoppers has been creating a real biological catastrophe with incalculable economic damage for farms and farm". "Just think - writes the mayor - that in the current year more than 35,000 hectares have been damaged, including crops, vegetable gardens and gardens, in affected areas in the provinces of Oristano, Sassari and Nuoro".

Pes also points out that to date all the initiatives undertaken to address and eradicate the very serious problem (Sardinia Region, Laore Sardinia agency, University of Sassari, Provinces, Municipalities, trade associations), have unfortunately not produced the desired effects. According to him there are serious delays in the interventions so far only promised and there is a lack of serious and long-term planning, knowledge of the territory concerned and a mapping of the grillare, which should be identified and removed. Hence the appeal to the government to make the "special units of the Army" available to communities and agricultural operators to be directed to the prevention and sighting of nymphs and to fight against what it defines as a catastrophe.

"Unfortunately - Pes points out - we consider the strategies, human resources and means that the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Defense of the Region and the territorial unit for the phytosanitary emergency due to water infestations, set up as insufficient and inadequate by decree of the regional council last 11 August. The size of the area affected by the acrid infestations, the orography of the territory, the fragmentation of the farms and the presence of vast areas of Mediterranean maquis make the fight almost impossible».